I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately after stumbling across a discussion where someone asked working parents to be brutally honest about their daily cleaning routines. The responses were refreshingly real and made me realise just how much pressure we put on ourselves to maintain some impossible standard of domestic perfection.

The original poster laid out their reality: two full-time working parents, a three-year-old, a dog, and the crushing weight of trying to fit everything into 24 hours while still getting the sleep they need for their health. Sound familiar? By the time they’ve done the morning rush, worked eight hours, squeezed in essential exercise, and handled dinner and bedtime routines, the day is done. Cleaning gets pushed to weekends, where exhaustion battles with the desperate need for just a moment to breathe.

Reading through an online discussion today about living with elderly pets brought back memories of my own experiences with aging family dogs. The situation described was particularly poignant - a college student living with parents and their two elderly dogs, struggling with the challenges of maintaining cleanliness in a home where pet accidents have become a daily occurrence.

The reality of caring for senior pets is something many of us will face, yet it’s rarely discussed openly. It’s messy, both literally and emotionally. While we love our furry family members dearly, the practical challenges of managing their declining health can strain both our patience and family relationships.